Episode 38: Hearing God in Ways We Don’t Always Recognise (Principles from Gideon in the Bible)

Episode 38: Hearing God in Ways We Don’t Always Recognise (Principles from Gideon in the Bible)

May 5, 2024 | 0 comments

Episode Description:

Have you ever asked God for a ‘fleece’ or to tell you something a different way because you were unsure you heard God correctly? Join us in this latest episode of Hearing God as we share the story of Gideon from the Bible and how he kept asking God for another sign. We unpack how we don’t believe in co-incidences, rather they are ‘God-incidences’. We love how God tells us how He sees us and who He created us to be, instead of who we think we are. The story of Gideon is a fantastic reminder to keep your eyes on God after a successful time.

Episode Notes:

Background to Gideon:

  • Gideon – classic story about identity and inferiority complex, fear, abandonment, discouragement, anger, bitterness, revenge, pride, unforgiveness, success, lust, covetousness, self-reliance, courage,
  • Found in Judges 6-8.
  • Judges 6:1: The Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord. They were running scared for seven years. The Midianites were fierce and strong and basically bullies. They came through every harvest time and stripped the land bare, so the Israelites were left with no food.
  • The Israelites cried out to God. God sent a prophet who said, “God told you not to worship idols, but you did. He’s done all this stuff for you, but you didn’t listen. Basically, it’s your own fault.”
  • In Judges 6:11, an angel of the Lord came and sat down under a tree near where Gideon was. In the Old Testament, it was typical for an angel of the Lord to appear like a man. Gideon was threshing wheat, but he was so scared the Midianites would take it that he was threshing it in a winepress.

First Principle: God can speak in ways we don’t always recognise.

  • Gideon didn’t immediately recognise it was an angel.
  • Co-incidence – God woke him up during the night and sent him down to the Midianite camp to listen. The exact moment he was outside the Midianite camp, he heard them talking about him and how he had defeated the Midianites (a loaf of barley came crashing down. God has a sense of humour – Gideon threshing wheat!!). This gave him courage.
  • It is important to interpret our dreams. The friend of the Midianite who had a dream said – “that must be Gideon, and God has given the Midianites into his hands.”
  • Ask for a fleece. Maturity – don’t need a fleece.
  • Gideon was given specific instructions. God is in the detail.

Second Principle: God desires us to live in our true identity.

  • The first thing the angel says is, “The Lord is with you mighty warrior.”
  • Gideon was scared, hiding in a winepress. He complains and says the Lord has abandoned them. Before he could be a mighty warrior, he needed an identity upgrade.
  • The angel says, “I’m sending you to save Israel from the Midianites.”
  • Gideon says, “Excuse me. How can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest of the weakest, and I’m the least in my family.”
  • The Lord answered, “I’ll be with you.”
  • Gideon said – “well, I’ll need a sign then.” He went away and prepared a meal as an offering for the angel. The angel said to place the meat and bread on the rock and pour the broth over the top. The angel then set it on fire by touching it with his staff. Gideon finally recognises this is an angel from God and declares he has seen him face to face.
  • Angel then says I want you to tear down the Asherah pole and your father’s altar to Baal. Gideon did it but was so scared that he waited until nighttime.
  • Townspeople wanted to kill Gideon. Father defends him.
  • Fathers are responsible for instilling identity.
  • After Gideon’s father stood up for him, Gideon became bold when the spirit of the Lord filled him. Gideon blew the trumpet and called the neighbouring Israelites to join them in fighting the Midianites who had come and camped down near the river.
  • Gideon still suffered from fear. He asked God for a sign – placed a wool fleece on the threshing floor. If dew only on the fleece in the morning and the surrounding ground dry, then I know you will use me to save Israel. God did that. Gideon said, “Don’t be angry with me, but I’m still unsure. Let’s try it the other way. The fleece dry and the surrounding ground with dew.”

Third Principle: Keep your eyes focused on God.

  • Gideon had assembled 32,000 men. God said, “That’s too many. You’ll take all the credit when you win.” 22,000 men left as they were scared.
  • Then God said take them to the water and watch how they drink. 300 drank by cupping water in their hands to drink, while watching for danger. The rest got down on their knees and put their face in the water. They were sent home.
  • During the night, God woke Gideon and said go down to the camp. I can see you’re still scared, so take your servant. Listen to what they are saying.
  • Gideon and his 300 men created havoc, destroying the Midianites.
  • At the end of the slaughter of the Midianites, Gideon took matters into his own hands. We need to be careful after success. Success can cause us to take our eyes off God.
  • Initially, Gideon said, “God will rule over you, not me”. But Gideon then got sidetracked. His one request was a gold earring from each person’s plunder. He melted the gold earring into an ephod – a breastplate that priests wore. He created an idol. He also had a harem, killed and tortured more people than God said to etc.
  • Judges 8:27 – “all Israel prostituted themselves by worshipping it there, and it became a snare to Gideon and his family.”
  • The land had peace for forty years until Gideon died. As soon as he died, they reinstituted Baal worship. Therefore, no heart change.

Summary:

  • First Principle: God can speak in ways we don’t always recognise.
  • Second Principle: God desires us to live in our true identity.
  • Third Principle: Keep your eyes focused on God.

Prophetic activation:

Turn your heart and thoughts to Father God and ask Him –

  • “God, is there a way You are trying to communicate to me that I am not recognising?”
  • “Father God, what is that way, and what else do I need to know about it?”

Time Stamps:

[0:42] – Gary & Jane share briefly how they have heard God this week.

[3:41] – Background of Gideon and brief summary of Judges 6-8.

[6:17] – First Principle: God desires us to live in our true identity.

[11:05] – Second Principle: God can speak in ways we don’t always recognise.

[15:56] – Third Principle: Keep your eyes focused on God.

[19:42] – Recap the principles.

[20:05] – Prophetic activation.

[20:51] – Gary & Jane both share a prophetic word for a listener.

[22:35] – Gary prays for you.

Resources / Links Mentioned:

Bible Verses Mentioned:

  • Judges 6-8

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